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Joel Sebastian Dickinson (1838 - 1910)

Joel Sebastian Dickinson
Born in Greene, Alabama, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 1862 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 72 in Oak Grove, West Carroll, Louisiana, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified | Created 26 Jul 2015
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Biography

Joel Sebastian Dickinson was born March 31, 1838, in Greene County, Alabama. The family called him Sebastian then shortened that to Bass. His parents came from England but their background is not known, And he had more siblings than can be accounted for at this time. The parents died before the Civil War (1861—1865) and are buried in Greene County, Alabama, whore they owned considerable land and slaves. Joel’s father had made a will and specified that Joel's part of estate would he put in trust for him, if the father died before Joel was age twenty—one. Joel was the youngest of the children; he was quite young when the father died, so he was reared by his oldest sister, Sarah Dickinson McDade. We do not know the given name of Sarah's husband; neither do we know the name of' Joel's other sister. We do know a little about his brother John Dickinson. Joel Sebastian Dickinson the Confederate Army in 1861 at the age of nineteen. Ile was married then or soon after he went to war. The young wife had his child and in time the child became ill. Joel’s wife sent him a message to come home but, he was refused leave. Later, he received another message from her saying that the child died, and she no longer needed him or wanted him. She was planning to start divorce proceedings. Joel asked for leave again and was refused; she left his unit without leave, and went home to try to save his marriage. The wife. would not agree to reconciliation. Joel began the journey back to his Calvary but I have no record of where he was stationed. Enroute, (where ever he was going,) Joel was chased by Jayhawkers that he evaded, by turning his horse loose and climbing up a tree. The Jayhawkers camped there in a nearby grove to rest overnight; thus he stayed up the tree all night and until the marauders left the next morning 0 Joel was without a horse and had to finish this trip on foot. When he found his unit, Joel went to the officer in charge, explained his absence and hoped for clemency. Was told that the war had ended and was given a Dishonorable Discharge, which all concerned felt was unjust because the South had really lost the war, before Joel was absent without leave. Joel returned to the home of his sister Sarah, who nursed him back to health, as he was malnourished and suffering the trauma of losing has child and wife. All of this was compounded by shock and feeling utterly disgraced about his discharge. When Joel recovered he married young widow, Elizabeth Ann Birchfield Herring, in 1886. Elizabeth was born August 18, 1 8142 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was called Betty. My Mother's records show that the Birchfield’s came from England but I do not have any documented facts about their ancestral background. Elizabeth's Mother was deceased when Elizabeth, a brother, and young sister were small children, Their Father re-married and reared these children with other children by his second wife. The Birchfield’s owned vast lands including coal mines in northern Alabama hill country. When Elizabeth's Father died, the children by his second wife took over the property. Elizabeth and her sibling said not get their part of the estate. Elizabeth Birchfield was married to a Mr. Herring when she was sixteen years of age. They had four young children when he died. It is not known if he was in the war, but the consensus of opinion is that he was not. Elizabeth’s brother, James Birchfield was killed in the war. The younger sister lived with Elizabeth. The reconstruction era was as difficult for Joel and Elizabeth Dickinson to cope with as it was for a lot of other southerners. This couple were starting a new marriage with four children and very few resources. The Dickinson estate was gone and the confederate money Joel had received from his inheritance was worthless. Their precarious situation necessitated a new beginning. Joel and Elizabeth, her four children, and her sister came West and first settled in Desota Parish, Louisiana in 1867. (Elizabeth’s sister married and went to Arkansas. She was visited there in the Ozarks many years later by her niece Ann Dickinson Peters, and a great niece Armour Waters Greer. Armour's visit was in 1936.) Joel and Elizabeth lived in DeSota Parish for two years. Their first child was born there, and the family moved to Winn Parish, Louisiana in 1869. They homesteaded one hundred acres of land and contracted to buy more. This location was about four miles east of Dodson, where six other children were born, and where they reared and educated their seven children. These are: Sarah Ann Elizabeth Dickinson born April 30, 1867 in DeSota Parish. She was called Ann. Thomas Ephriam Dickinson born May 18. 1869 in Winn Parish. He was called Tom Viranis Lucretia Dickinson born February 13, 1871 in Winn Parish. She was called Lou. Josie Dickinson born in Winn Parish. Caroline Dickinson born in Winn Parish. Belle Dickinson born April 22, 1877 in Winn Parish. Turner Dickinson born in Winn Parish During the time that Joel and Elizabeth were moving, two of her children by Mr. Herring died while quite young. Her son Pinkney Herring died at age nine, and daughter Nancy Herring died at age fifteen. These four are buried in Winn Parish. In the early 1900’s Joel and Elizabeth Dickinson moved from Winn Parish and settled on newer, fertile farm land in West Carroll Parish, near Oak Grove, Louisiana. All their children relocated in West Carroll Parish except Ann and Lou. Elizabeth Birchfield Herring Dickinson was deceased on April 16, 1907. Joel Sebastian Dickinson died on December 26, 1910. Both are buried at Oak Grove, Louisiana. [1]

Their granddaughter, Ora Peters Broussard, wrote the following contribution to the Senior Dickinson’s, "Grand mother Dickinson was a gentle, loving little woman, about 5 ft. 2— with brown hair and pretty blue eyes. I never saw her really angry. It was said she only showed short temper during pregnancy which was long before my time. She loved all her grandchildren and my dearest memories of preschool days was frequently spending a week with her. Grandfather Dickinson was considered a stern but just man. He was evidently a good farmer and manager—providing well for his family. I have only kindest memories of him. After he sold his Winn Parish property and settled in West Carroll Parish, near Oak Grove, he owned a nice farm on which was a large white house and a small store, where he sold supplies to tenants, workmen and neighbors. " Ora states that Joel and Elizabeth Dickinson returned to Alabama for a visit around 1870 when her mother, Ann Dickinson was three years old

Sources

  1. Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 31 July 2020), memorial page for Joel Sebastian Dickinson (31 Mar 1838–26 Dec 1910), Find A Grave: Memorial #49549361, citing Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, USA; maintained by Ron Manley (contributor 46788603), two headstone photos.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Joel by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Joel:

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Comments: 3

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I have Joel Sebastian Dickinson's mother down as Caroline Miller, not Lenora Edwards. I am related to him through his (unlisted here) son, Thomas E Dickinson.

https://gentrekker.com/getperson.php?personID=I0490&tree=Dickinson

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49553357/thomas-e-dickinson

posted by Taylor Dickinson
Hello, Taylor,

I've fixed this issue now.

Thanks!

Linda

posted by Linda (Johnson) Leslie
Dickinson-3813 and Dickinson-3812 appear to represent the same person because: Clear Duplicate

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